"Home of many firsts, Hartsdale, New York"

Hartsdale, a hamlet/post-office in the town of Greenburgh, New York, lies on the Bronx River just 20 miles (32 km) north of New York City. It is served by the Metro-North Harlem River commuter rail line into Grand Central Terminal. Hartsdale is well known for the charming train station and easy walk from some of the condo/co-op and single family homes nearby. Some of the neighbrohoods have a mini bus for commuters to NYC.

Growing up in nearby White Plains, I remember a few things about Hartsdale. The animal cemetery, the home of America's first canine pet cemetery (started by veterinarian Samuel Johnson in 1896), and the world's first Carvel Ice Cream store (1934), which closed in 2008. Sad to see that go. Central Avenue, close to Hartsdales neighborhoods is a mecca for shopping for just about anything you need. Furniture, food, clothing, you name it Central Avenue has it.

Hartsdale is one of the few communities immediately surrounding New York City that still has two working farms, both on Secor Road. It also has several parks, including the 25-acre (100,000 m2) Secor Woods Park, the 170-acre (0.69 km2) Ridge Road Park, and 86-acre (350,000 m2) Rumbrook Park.

The town can generally be subdivided into several areas, including the "Village" or downtown part (East Hartsdale Avenue), where the train station is located. Manor Park, Windsor Park, (with older tudors and colonials) within walking distance to the train station. Poet's Corners, (streets named after all our famous Poets), Ridge Road, Orchard Hill, College Corners, (streets named after all our ivy league colleges). Let's not forget more specifically one of the several condominium developments built since the 1970s, and the many co-op buildings on E. Hartsdale Ave.. Over the years, the town has attracted many different ethnic groups, and the downtown village has a significant Japanese population with Japanese shops, restaurants, real-estate brokers, and even a Japanese supermarket all within walking distance of East Hartsdale Avenue. Several new and delightful restaurants are located in the village on E. Hartsdale Ave.

Ferncliff Cemetery is located on Secor Road in Hartsdale, famous as the burial grounds for many celebrities including Aaliyah, Malcolm X, Judy Garland, Jerome Kern, Joan Crawford, Basil Rathbone, Ed Sullivan, Jam-Master Jay, James Baldwin, Michel Fokine, Tom Carvel, Oscar Hammerstein, Thelonious Monk, Paul Robeson and others. British rocker John Lennon and Muppets creator Jim Henson were cremated there. Composer Béla Bartók was initially buried in Hartsdale before being reinterred in his native Hungary in 1988. Radio DJ Alan Freed was also initially buried in Hartsdale until his ashes were moved to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Not celebrities, but related to me my parents and grandparents all buried here.

"Very Unique and Fairly Affordable"

Hartsdale, located in Greenburgh and close to one of Westchester’s busiest cities, White Plains, has its own train station, and is less than an hour from downtown Manhattan, making it a convenient suburban location for commuters.

It’s perhaps most unique for being the location of the world’s very first Carvel Ice Cream Stand. The story is that Athens-born Greek salesman Tom Carvel’s truck got a flat tire while traveling through Hartsdale, and since the ice cream he was transporting was melting, he had to sell it fast: thus, the idea for the very first Carvel store was born, and Tom had it built on the same exact location that he got his flat tire and made his first big sale.

Hartsdale is also unique for its gigantic Canine Pet Cemetery and Crematorium. While it may seem morbid to think about, the cemetery is actually quite fascinating, with tombs that commemorate beloved dogs, loving epitaphs, and a history that travels as far back as the late 19th century. It’s hailed as “America’s First and Most Prestigious Pet Burial Grounds”, and is America’s very first pet cemetery, as well as one of the oldest in the world. It was created by Samuel Johnson, who was one of Hartsdale’s earliest veterinarians, and the first pet to ever be buried here was one of his own patients’ dogs. Since then, 70,000 pets have been laid to rest here, given their blessings by loving owners who simply want to honor their wonderful pets’ lives and unique characteristics. It is definitely a must on your list of places to visit in Hartsdale.

Walking through town (there’s lots of stores along North Central Ave), it’s hard to miss the mark left by the Japanese population, as there’s the gigantic Japanese organic supermarket, Nijiya, as well as lots of yummy sushi restaurants (aside from Vega Mexican, the charming and authentic Mexican restaurant in town). There’s also grocery options like Trader Joe’s or Morton Williams, and clothing stores like T.J. Maxx, Michael’s and Marshall’s. Unique trade stores include Westchester’s Puppies and Kittens (find your new cute furry friend), and, if you’re in a festive mood, visit Christmas Tree Shops for holiday decorating decor early this year.

If you’re looking for a home here (houses start generally in the mid $400,000’s, perfect for middle class families), you’ll meet lots of Japanese real estate brokers. Aside from the large Asian population, there’s also a notably large Hispanic and Black population as well. You can be sure that Greenburgh School District is very diverse as well, and the population does very well with English and Math scores, with most students going on to bigger and brighter things: if your kids go here, you can expect encouragement, dedication, and chances are, a bright future.

There’s several parks in Hartsdale, but don’t forget to take a walk in Hart’s Brook Nature Preserve and Arboretum, which has lots of easy walking and hiking trails, a pond enclosed by Rosebay Rhododendrons, and lots of different types of trees, like Japanese Maples and different types of Oak and shrubbery.

The train station at Hartsdale has a conveniently located Starbucks that’s right by the tracks, making it convenient for commuters to grab a danish and coffee before hurrying off to work (don’t forget to use the free wi fi!). There’s great night life to be found on Mamaroneck Ave. in local White Plains. Hartsdale is home to one of Montefiore Medical Center’s locations, offering state-of-the art medical care and technology, and there’s lots of other medical options in Hartsdale, as well as White Plains Hospital in---you guessed it---White Plains. Westchester County Airport is less than an hour away in nearby Armonk, NY. Hartsdale is easily accessed by roads 119 and 100 via 9 and 9A.

"Bustling small town..."

Hartsdale is part of the larger town of Greenburgh and located adjacent to the city of White Plains. Some of the city’s commercial activity spilled past its borders into the surrounding locations, making Hartsdale a terrific shopping destination. The town covers about four square miles, with just under 10,000 residents.

Central Park Avenue is the main road through Hartsdale. The town is also bordered by the Sprain Brook Parkway and the Bronx River Parkway. Interstate 287 located just north of the town, providing access to the Tappan Zee Bridge, New York City via I-87, as well as Connecticut.

Hartsdale is a great town for shopping. Christmas Tree Shops, a popular discount retailer, has one of its only downstate locations here. Despite its name, the store is open year-round and great bargains. Last year H-Mart, a large Korean grocery store, opened in a space previously occupied by Pathmark. The town also has a Trader Joes, a small, popular specialty grocery store. There are chain stores and smaller, independently owned shops. In addition, White Plains is just down the road with department stores and malls. The town also has a large selection of restaurants, including Harry’s of Hartdale, serving French and American fare, and the popular Azuma Sushi.

Children who live in Hartsdale attend schools in the Greenburgh 7 district, not to be confused with Greenburgh 11, which is on the state’s radar for subpar test scores. State exam scores tend to be one of the key barometers for measuring a district’s quality, and Greenburgh’s scores, overall, tend to hover around the state averages in most grades and subjects. There is a Catholic elementary school, Sacred Heart, and a high school, Maria Regina. Solomon Schechter is a Jewish school for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Hartsdale has condos and co-ops, some in high-rise buildings located along the main roads and within walking distance to shops and restaurants. There are some homes priced above a million dollars, but most of them are less; there are many price points and a good amount of inventory at the moment.

Hartsdale is worth a look for people who want something a little more suburban than White Plains, but also want a little more activity than what’s offered by Westchester’s other smaller towns.

"Blending the best of city and country living!"

Hartsdale is part of the city of Greenburgh in Westchester County in New York. It offers a .30 minute commute to Grand Central as there is a Metro-North Station in the heart of town on East Hartsdale Avenue. This commute is one of the attractions of Hartsdale. The other is the unique aspect of Hartsdale in that it is a suburb with a touch of the city. There are multi-storey apartments, co-ops and condos on East Hartsdale which are reminiscent of city living. Interestingly this draws many young couples and new suburbaners, who acknowledge that the suburbs are more affordable but are loathe to give up the feel of the city. East Hartsdale Avenue is a stretch of shops and residences, and with the train station right there, it offers the possibility of a car-free lifestyle which is really unusual for a suburb.
But there is more to Hartsdale that this one stretch, of course. There are many single-family homes ranging from Cape Cods to Colonials and they are on tree-lined avenues befitting the best images of suburban living. Poet’s Corner and Colleges’ Corner are among the popular sections of town – I like the detail that these are named so because the streets here are those of poets and colleges, respectively!
Hartsdale, being part of Greenburgh, gets the benefit of the larger communities school system and the park and recreation program. Both of these are excellent and can be a real asset to any family with kids. Shopping and dining options can be found on Central Avenue and East Hartsdale Avenue. Masala Kraft is a personal favorite and Vega is well worth checking out!

"Historical Hamlet"

The adorable less than 1 square mile hamlet of Hartsdale is located in the far larger town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, NY. Hartsdale has its fair share of pricey and lovely homes, but also more modestly priced apartments and co-ops on East Hartsdale Ave and its offshoot streets. These are typically populated by young professional commuters and starter families including a fairly sizable Japanese demographic.

Those apartments are desirable both for their affordability and quality, but also for their walkability to the nearby train station and the short stretch of cute shops and restaurants that surround it. The train station, itself, has some historical significance as the original site of a very important Revolutionary War battle. Now it boasts a lovely Starbucks with a small seating area as well a short commute to NYC.

On Saturday mornings, right in front of the train station is a small but colorful Farmer’s Market, sometimes with live music. The stretch of stores that flank the train station include an exceptional bakery named Enrico’s that gets packed to the gills on Holidays, a good wine shoppe, an excellent sushi place called Azuma, an authentic Indian eatery called Masala Kraft Café, a newer fresh Latin American joint called Vega and the always popular steakhouse and Oyster Bar on the corner, Harry’s of Hartsdale, which is a big draw to businessmen when they get off the train.

Only minutes away by car, bus, bike or foot, is bustling Central Avenue with its absolute abundance of stores and restaurants that will meet every need you could possibly have and then some.

Other little known but very interesting facts about seemingly humble Hartsdale is that they are home to the first ever pet cemetery and the first ever Carvel Ice Cream store, which sadly closed its doors in 2008 and was razed sometime thereafter. Nearby Ferncliff Cemetery is famous as the final resting grounds for many celebrities including Aaliyah, Malcolm X, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Ed Sullivan and Oscar Hammerstein. Also, John Lennon and Jim Henson were cremated there.

Hartsdale is quite a safe area with a very low crime rate.

Hartsdale is part of the larger Greenburgh school district which has a decent system. The median SAT score of Woodland’s High School is 1365 and a reported 93% of its graduates go on to attend college.

The median income is $107,757. The median home value is $399,625 and the median rental rate is $1,770.00

"Pleasant town with a central location"

Located in southern Westchester, within the town of Greenburgh, Hartsdale is a peaceful suburban community with competitively priced homes and a very cute little shopping area. There are lots of stores: mom-and-pop shops and cute restaurants on East Hartsdale Ave, the hamlet's main street, as well as larger and trendier stores on Central Park Avenue. The hamlet is also very conveniently located; residents enjoy very easy access to Manhattan via the MetroNorth railroad. It is also located close to White Plains and is convenient to Yonkers. In recent years, Hartsdale has seen an influx of young people who have come here from the city. They are lured here by Hartsdale's cheaper real estate, short commute, and variety of shopping options. Hartsdale has diverse housing that includes private homes, co-ops. and condo buildings. The apartment buildings in Hartsdale are slightly taller than those in other Westchester towns, which also attracts people who come here from Manhattan. Hartsdale also boasts an interesting history; it played a part in the American Revolution, so you will see historical buildings here. Sadly, Hartsdale also has the country's oldest pet cemetery (a depressing, but interesting fact). The schools here are pretty good; the class sizes are small and there are a few private religious schools.

"Moderately priced homes in a great location"

Hartsdale is in a great location next to Scarsdale and White Plains. You can shop to your hearts content in White Plains, meander in the upper crust neighborhood of Scarsdale, and enjoy lower taxes and a relaxed neighborhood in Hartsdale. Then of course there's New York City which offers practically everything. Lots of people living here hop into New York City on the weekend since there's not much, or any, nightlife in the village. There's a nice strip of shops where you can run out and pick up bagels in the morning or a jug of milk. It's not the most exciting shopping or restaurant scene but it's not an issue due to its location.

There are three parks in Hartsdale which are great during the summer. East Rumbrook Park is probably the biggest with basketball courts, tennis courts, and a dog park. Hart's Brook Park and Preserve is more untamed and better for nature trails.

Hartsdale is also a part of Greenburgh so you'll have access to their community events and programs. The community center is in White Plains anyway so you won't have far to drive. They offer just about everything under the sun for adults and children.